Looking at the mountains and rivers

There was a slight stagnation in the air, Xie Ao quickly shook his head and smiled and said: "The way of the country, the way of the world, is too big, the lower officials dare not speak nonsense." As he spoke, he quietly raised his eyes to look at King Mu, who was seated above, and saw King Mu also looked at him with a smile, his eyes seemed to meet for a moment, he was startled suddenly and almost knocked over the bowl in his hand, and then suddenly remembered that His Highness couldn't see, obviously he couldn't see himself.

"Captain Xie is a smart man." Yang Yan nodded.

His admiration came a bit suddenly, which made Xie Yu slightly puzzled, so he could only smile and said: "Your Highness is absurdly praised, the lower official is naturally dull, fortunately the emperor's grace, otherwise the lower official would never be able to sit in this position today."

"Why should Captain Xie be overly modest? If it wasn't for Captain Xie's advice to solve the emperor's confidant's troubles, how could the emperor appreciate it so much and bestow the post of captain? The emperor regards Captain Xie as his prime minister. "

Xie Yu hurriedly bowed his head and said: "How dare you be an official if you say that."

Yang Yan smiled quietly, but changed the topic: "However, why didn't the emperor just give Mr. Xie the position of prime minister?" He held the wine cup in his hand and didn't drink, just smiled lowly, "After all Taiwei, like me, Sikong, is just a high-ranking vain job."

Xie Ao suddenly lost his smile, he felt a little vigilant in his heart, but his face was not leaking: "I am very satisfied with my current position, how dare I think about it again."

"Oh?" Yang Yan raised his eyebrows and said slowly, "Does Captain Xie dare not, or does he not want to?"

Xie Xie didn't answer, he stared at the blind young King Mu, his palms were slightly sweaty.

"Nowadays the court is full of civil and military affairs, the emperor's most trusted person is undoubtedly Mr. Xie. This king guessed that the emperor also wanted to hand over the power to Mr. Xie in his heart. It's a pity that Zhongshu and the two provinces under his sect are all children of several big families. There is really no place to spare." Yang Yan said here, and smiled again, "Although Mr. Xie has a good background, but in the end he is no match for the four families of Gao, Li, Kuang and Lu. In fact, don't say thank you, sir. Even when my uncle King Yong was alive, he only offered his two sons the post of secretary in the Ministry of Rites and Industry, and the two provinces are still controlled by the elders of the aristocratic clan."

Xie Yu put down the wine cup, his voice was a little low: "What is the intention of His Royal Highness King Mu talking about this with the officials?"

Yang Yan also put down the wine cup, and he turned sideways slightly: "Prime Minister Wu Ya was the same age as Lord Xie before. His wisdom is not inferior to that of Prime Minister Wu Ya, this king just said this because he wants to thank you for being the second Prime Minister Wu Ya."

Xie Ao seemed to be surprised, the corner of his mouth was about to rise, but gradually fell down: "The position of Zhongshuling is the same as that of the right minister, and it is the position of a minister. The lower officials dare not wishful thinking. What's more, the Zhongshuling is Ru Ning. In the world of the Gao family and the Xinling Li family, there is no room for others to comment." He paused, and then said, "However, these days, the officials have seen a thing or two of His Highness King Mu's methods, since His Highness dares to make this promise , must have a well-thought-out plan."

Yang Yan smiled: "The Zhongshu order is high and powerful, but it is nothing. If Mr. Xie is willing to join hands with this king, he will get far more than just a Zhongshu order in the future."

Xie Ao's heartbeat quickened unconsciously, he could feel something flowing in his blood vessels, and his voice trembled slightly: "I don't know what your Highness is planning to join hands with the lower officials?"

"Thank you, sir, what does this king want to do most now?"

Xie Xie said in a low voice: "Forgive me for speaking bluntly, Your Highness is just involved in government affairs, and his power is weak, and most of the people close to him are low-ranking officials. Now the most important thing to do is to promote his cronies and expand his wings."

Yang Yan smiled, noncommittal.

"However," Xie Ao suddenly said, "His Royal Highness was awarded Sikong a while ago, and then took over the affairs of the Ministry of Industry. It can be done without joining Xie."

Yang Yan nodded: "That's right, what this king is going to do is not trivial, and it can only be accomplished if we join hands with Lord Xie." He sighed, and said suddenly, "Master Xie, remember what I said in the court earlier? Is it about water control?"

"His Highness talked eloquently that day, and the next official still remembers it vividly."

Yang Yan tilted his head and asked, "Then, does Mr. Xie know where the most stubborn disease of the Yellow River is?"

"where?"

"Because of the silt deposits downstream where it enters the sea, the river bed is too high, causing the water level to rise continuously. No matter how high the dams are on both sides of the river, they will not be able to keep up with the rising speed of the river water. In the end, the dams will break through and the water will flood the plains," Yang Yan said in a low voice. "Today's Dazhao is just like the Yellow River. If the silt is allowed to accumulate on the bottom of the water, it will eventually collapse for thousands of miles. So what this king has to do is to eradicate these stubborn silts."

Xie Ao was shocked after all: "Your Highness is going to destroy the family?"

Seeing that he finally understood, Yang Yan smiled slightly and stood up slowly: "Actually, you are right. I really want to promote my cronies and expand my wings, but it's not just a one-time promotion. I want to open up my doors so that everyone in the world can be recognized." Come into my arms and drive out all the useless descendants of the family who occupy the court."

Xie Yu also stood up, and said anxiously: "But these clans have already been deeply ingrained in the court, and they cannot be easily shaken. Even at the beginning of the founding of the country, Taizong had nothing to do with them. What are you going to do, Your Highness... ..." When he said this, he glanced at Yang Yan's inscrutable expression, and suddenly his heart moved, "Could it be that His Highness has already thought of a countermeasure?"

Yang Yan nodded: "Nowadays, only one out of ten officials in the imperial court are born in the imperial examination, and they have to select scholars based on their family status. If there is no kindness and special gift, even the top scholar can only be allowed to be at the bottom of the ninth rank. Official position. This old system must be broken."

Xie Xie was silent for a moment: "Abolishing the old system is easy to say, but it is not easy to do. I still remember that Gu Huayang proposed a new system during the reign of Emperor Ruizong. He was angered by the family and was demoted to the wilderness. He died in depression." He Paused, "The lower officials ask themselves that they are not as talented as Mr. Hua Yang, so I'm afraid they won't be able to help His Royal Highness King Mu."

Hearing that there was already rejection in his words, Yang Yan smiled again: "Naturally, I don't want to embarrass Mr. Xie. It is really not easy to change the old system, and we need to think about it in the long run. However, for Mr. Xie, there is one thing that is just a matter of little effort."

"What's the matter?"

"Please thank your lord for persuading the emperor to agree that starting from the spring test this year, he will personally open a course to recruit scholars in the Xuanzheng Palace. Those who have outstanding knowledge will be promoted exceptionally."

"Let the emperor pick up scholars in front of the palace?" Xie Ao was stunned at first, and then came back to his senses, "Once this example is opened, it will definitely shock the world, and it will also inspire scholars all over the world, and let them understand the painstaking efforts of the emperor in seeking talents."

"That's right. Afterwards, you can order all the recruits to stay in Zhaohong Wenguan, and Lord Xie will select and appoint them. In this way, within a few years, all the newly promoted officials in the court will be Lord Xie's disciples. By then, Lord Xie will be in the court." The status of the middle is self-evident, let me ask who in Dazhao can stand shoulder to shoulder with Mr. Xie."

Xie Xie knew that Lantai Ling Han Ping was in charge of the selection tests these years. Han Ping, as a disciple of Prime Minister Wu Ya, also served as the examiner of the spring test. Although his official position was not high, he was respected.However, although Xie Xie was a captain, he didn't have much real power, he was only surrounded by Xiaoxiao's flattering people, and he always hated him in his heart.Hearing these words now, he was on the point of the matter, and almost agreed, but his eyes rolled a few times, but he said with a smile: "Your Highness has worked so hard for the Dazhao Sheji, I really shouldn't refuse. But there are Regarding this matter, the lower official feels uneasy and wants to ask His Royal Highness King Mu for advice."

"Oh?" Yang Yan raised his eyebrows slightly, as if waiting for him to finish.

"May I ask Your Highness, is General Wei Changxuan, Captain of the Habayashi Guards, someone close to His Highness?"

Yang Yan's expression paused, and then the corners of his lips curled up slightly: "Master Xie is talking about Wei Changxuan?" He smiled casually, and said casually, "He was my king's companion when he was young, and he lived in the mansion for several years before. I don't know Mr. Xie." Why are you asking him?"

Xie Gui murmured: "I heard that General Wei was very resentful towards Xie because of an old incident. Since he is His Highness's companion, His Highness must also feel dissatisfied with Xie. Although Xie is dull, he dare not commit any crimes. His Highness's wrath, after much deliberation, it's better to avoid it."

Yang Yan seemed to be slightly startled, and quickly laughed: "My lord Xie is worried about such trivial things." He quickly stopped laughing and explained gently, "Although Wei Changxuan and this king have a relationship, but in the face of major national affairs It can only be considered insignificant. Besides, Master Xie should also know that the companion is in my Donghu, but it is just a servant, and Master Xie is the humerus of the country, and is the best friend I will join hands with, how can it be compared."

Hearing this, Xie Xie hurriedly responded with a smile, and carefully raised his head to look at Yang Yan carefully, only to see his face was calm, without any clue.He pondered for a moment, and finally left the table to pay his respects: "Your Majesty has such trust in His Royal Highness Mu Wang, I will not dare to live up to my trust."

Yang Yan smiled, and stretched out his hand to help him up: "Since the founding of the Dazhao Dynasty for a hundred years, the court has been controlled by the Donghu forces, and in recent years it has been controlled by the aristocratic clan, but these times will eventually pass. From now on, Master Xie and I The era will truly begin.”

Xie Ao was shocked, his heart was filled with indescribable emotions, it seemed yearning, it seemed fear, and he was also vaguely uneasy.

The banquet ended not long after. After Xie Xie left, Yang Yan sat alone in the hall for a while, but there was still no servant coming in to clean it outside, which was obviously a bit unusual.Yang Yan's expression moved slightly, he got up and called out: "Fang Ming."

He heard the hall door being gently opened, but the footsteps coming in were not Fang Ming, nor the servant girl, it was very calm and clear, it was clearly Wei Changxuan.

A look of astonishment suddenly flashed across Yang Yan's face, then he slowly stood up, looked in the direction of the palace gate blankly, and said softly, "Wei Changxuan?"

Wei Changxuan looked at him silently, and said after a long time: "I heard from Fang Ming that you were having a banquet earlier, so I don't want to disturb you, so I just wait outside the hall."

"So...you heard what I said?"

"Yes, I heard it."

In an instant, the blood on Yang Yan's face faded away, his lips trembled slightly, like a child who was at a loss, he said for a long time: "Wei Changxuan, don't get me wrong..."

Wei Changxuan nodded: "I know, if you want to win Xie Ao into your favor, you naturally have to say such words to dispel his suspicion." He lowered his eyes and smiled bitterly, "Besides, what you said is not wrong, I am your companion, and I am a servant, so there is nothing wrong with it."

He had never spoken like this before, and Yang Yan panicked in his heart, hurriedly took a few steps towards him, and said anxiously: "You know I don't mean that!"

Wei Changxuan raised his head and looked at him. Because of the backlight, he couldn't see Yang Yan's face clearly, so he said in a low voice: "Yexi, I'm not you, I'm not as tolerant as you. You know that Yang Dai killed your mother, You can still pretend to be ignorant and live under the eaves with him for more than ten years, but I can't. Xie Ai poisoned my adoptive father, and I already hated him to the bone, you don't know this."

Yang Yan could hear the faint anger in his words, and was even more helpless, and said as if about to cry: "Wei Changxuan..."

"I know that what you want to plan is a big event. Xie Yu is very useful to you. It is understandable that you join forces with him. I will not stop you. But if I want to calmly watch you shake hands and talk happily, I really can't do it. "Wei Changxuan lowered his head and looked at his palm. There was a deep bloodstain there, which was caused by him holding the blade tightly outside the hall just now.He gritted his teeth and said, "I saw him come out just now, I didn't do anything, I have endured to the extreme."

Yang Yan didn't dare to think about Wei Changxuan's mood just now when he was listening to their chatting and laughing outside the hall. He stood there blankly with cold palms.

"I came today just to tell you that your grandfather is seriously ill now, Donghu..." Wei Changxuan stopped talking in the middle, and sighed softly, "I forgot, with your current status , should have known the news long ago, right?"

Yang Yan lowered his head and nodded slightly.

"Then you should also know about Yan Yu's sending troops," Wei Changxuan paused, and Fang said, "Now that Donghu is in civil turmoil, no one leads troops to resist, and General Chen Yan is still ill. I intend to lead the imperial army to this war. Hexi supports."

"You want to lead the army?" Yang Yan opened his eyes wide, as if he wanted to stop him but didn't know how to speak, he bit his lower lip lightly and said, "This battle does not require the support of the imperial army, I am going to write a book for Donghu... ..."

Wei Changxuan interrupted him suddenly: "How to dispatch Donghu is your business, and what I want to do is my business." He had never spoken to Yang Yan so forcefully, and he turned and left after speaking, waiting to step on the ground. After leaving the palace gate, he whispered again, "The battle is urgent, and I will leave tomorrow."

Yang Yan heard that he was going to leave, so he hurriedly chased after him, stretched out his hand to the void, and was grabbing half of Wei Changxuan's sleeve.He grabbed the sleeve and shook it lightly, sniffed, and called softly: "Wei Changxuan..."

In the past, when the two of them were young, every time he gently pulled Wei Changxuan's sleeve like this, Wei Changxuan would chuckle lightly, then lower his head and kiss him.But this time, Wei Changxuan didn't look back.Yang Yan waited for a long time, until the piece of fabric in his hand was suddenly pulled away, and the sound of footsteps in his ears gradually faded away, and he finally realized that Wei Changxuan had just left.He stood there in a daze for a long time, still in the gesture of reaching out his hand, but what his fingers touched was a piece of cold nothingness.